Lighted table for the use with sewing machines

ABSTRACT

A table for use with a sewing machine for illuminating indicia apertures in a workpiece to be sewn. The table includes a reflective base over which a pair of fluorescent lamps are disposed. A translucent cover is provided over the lamps. The cover includes a flat central portion from which plural sides extend downwardly. The downwardly extending sides facilitate the disposition of the workpiece on the table and the subsequent removal of the workpiece therefrom.

United States Patent 1191 J oella et al.

1111 3,862,409 Jan. 21, 1975 1 LIGHTED TABLE FOR THE USE WITH SEWING MACHINES [76] Inventors: Thomas Joella, Delaboe, Bangor,

Pa. 18013; Robert Mickus, RD. 2, New Tripoli, Pa. 18066 [22] Filed: Oct. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 405,351

[52] US. Cl. 240/2.14, 108/23, 240/2 AT [51] Int. Cl .l D05b 79/00 [58] Field of Search..... 240/2.14, 2 AD, 2 D, 2 AT,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,419,822 6/1922 Corbe 240/2.l4 X 2,174,297 9/1939 Way 240/2.14 X 2,247,211 6/1941 Solk 240/2 AT X 2,567,561 9/1951 Hoffmann 240/2 AT X 2,643,326 6/1953 Knapp 108/23 x 3,446,162 5/1969 Kranz 108/23 3,456,352 7/1969 Bowen 108/23 x 3,631,235 12/1971 Odermann 24o/2.14

Primary ExaminerRichard L. Moses Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein & Cohen [57] ABSTRACT A table for use with a sewing machine for illuminating indicia apertures in a workpiece to be sewn. The table includes a reflective base over which a pair of fluorescent lamps are disposed. A translucent cover is provided over the lamps. The cover includes a flat central portion from which plural sides extend downwardly. The downwardly extending sides facilitate the disposition of the workpiece on the table and the subsequent removal of the workpiece therefrom.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 21, 1975 I 3,862,409

-2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIGHTED TABLE FOR THE USE WITH SEWING MACHINES .T his invention relates generally to apparatus for use in conjunction with sewing machines and more particularly relates to apparatus for accurately indicating the position of indicia markings on fabrics to facilitate the sewing thereof.

It is a common practice in the clothing manufacturing trade to utilize alignment systems to aid in the alignment of the fabric workpiece(s) to be sewn such as in providing pockets or darts in a garment.

One common alignment technique involves the drilling of indicia apertures in the fabric workpiece. In order to properly align the workpiece(s) for sewing, the sewing machine operators commonly raise the workpiece in the air and hold it up to the overhead lights in order to see the indicia apertures provided in the workpiece. Once the apertures are seen, the operator can then orient, align or otherwise manipulate the workpiece(s) as desired while still holding it in the air. Once the workpiece(s) is properly arranged, the operator then carries the workpiece(s) to the sewing machine, whereupon it is sewn.

While this technique is an inexpensive one and provides a rather simple manner for arranging workpieces prior to sewing them, it suffers from various drawbacks. For example, a significant amount of valuable sewing time is wasted each time that the operator is forced to move the workpiece(s) up to the light to align it and then down to the sewing machine to sew it. Furthermore, during the carriage down to the sewing machine, the previously aligned workpiece(s) frequently become misaligned resulting in the production in an inferior garment.

Another alignment system presently in use involves the use of an ultraviolet emitting device adjacent each sewing machine. The device is arranged to provide an ultraviolet ray on the workpiece as it is disposed on the sewing table adjacent the sewing machine, to effect the illumination of phosphorescent indicia markings placed on the workpiece. When the markings are illuminated, the sewing machine operator is then able to properly arrange workpiece(s) before moving it under the needle of the sewing machine.

While such a phosphorescent alignment system overcomes some of the disadvantages of other prior art systems, it nevertheless suffers from various disadvantages itself. For example, the ultraviolet emitting device is extremely expensive. Furthermore, when used with some intricate patterned fabrics, the phosphorescent indicia marks may not show up readily.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide apparatus for use in conjunction with sewing machines, which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art workpiece alignment systems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for accurately indicating the position of indicia markings on fabrics to be sewn.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a simple, reliable and yet low cost device for accurately indicating the position of indicia markings on fabrics to be sewn.

These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a table for supporting a workpiece to be sewn by a sewing machine. The table provides light to illuminate from below indicia apertures provided in the workpiece to facilitate the sewing of the workpiece by the sewing machine. The table comprises a base, light emitting means disposed over the base and a light transmitting cover disposed over the light emitting means. The cover is adapted to support the workpiece directly thereon.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with this invention and is shown disposed in position adjacent a conventional sewing machine on a sewing table;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the manner in which the apparatus indicates the position of indicia markings on workpieces to be sewn;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 apparatus 10 for illuminating indicia apertures in aworkpiece to be sewn by a conventional sewing machine 12.

The apparatus 10 basically comprises a table 14 which is adapted to be illuminated by electrical means disposed therein and electrical power supply means 16 for providing power to illuminate the table.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the illuminated table 14 is disposed on a sewing table 18 immediately adjacent the needle 20 of a conventional sewing machine 12.

The table 14 is arranged to support a workpiece to be sewn and to illuminate it from below when provided with power, via power supply means 16. This action enables one to readily detect the position of indicia apertures drilled into the workpiece fabric, without necessitating the movement of the workpiece off the table and into the air or otherwise out of the vicinity of the sewing machine. Once the position of the apertures is detected, the workpiece(s) can be readily aligned, oriented or otherwise manipulated while still on the table 14 and once aligned, the workpiece(s) can then be moved off the table and directly under the needle of the sewing machine to effect the sewing of the garment.

In FIG. 2 there is shown the table 14 in use in a typical workpiece alignment operation. To that end, as can be seen, a first fabric workpiece 22, such as a shirt front, is disposed on the top surface 24 of the table 14. The first workpiece includes a plurality of indicia apertures 26 which have been drilled in the fabric to indicate the position that a second workpiece 28, such as pocket, is to be disposed at. The second workpiece 28 also includes indicia apertures 26 drilled therein. The latter apertures are arranged to be aligned with the indicia apertures in the first workpiece when the pocket is in correct position on the shirt front.

The lighted table 14 is effective to clearly indicate the position of the indicia apertures by transilluminating the apertures in the workpieces from below. This enables the sewing machine operator to quickly position the workpieces with respect to each other to align the indicia apertures without removing the workpieces from the table. The aligned workpieces are then slid off the table 14 and under the needle 20 of the sewing machine immediately adjacent the table to enable the workpieces to be sewn in proper position.

It should be noted at this point that while FIG. 2 shows the apparatus used for aligning a pair of workpieces, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus can be used with only a single workpiece, such as when providing a dart in a garment at a position indicated by indicia apertures provided therein.

The structural details of table 14 can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. As can be seen therein, the table 14 basically comprises a generally planar base 30, light emitting means 32 disposed above the base and a light transmitting cover 34 disposed over the light emitting means.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the light emitting means comprise a pair of conventional fluorescent lamps 36. The lamps are supported at each end by conventional electrical sockets 38. The sockets are mounted on the base and are connected thereto via plural screws 40.

Electric power is provided to the sockets 38, and hence to the lamps 36, via plural wires 42. The wires 46 merge together in a bunch and extend through a rubber grommet 44 (see FIG. 4) in a hole 46 in the back wall 48 of the cover 34 and are connected to a ballast box 50 (see FIG. 1). The ballast box is of general rectangular shape and disposed therein is a conventional ballast device (not shown).

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the ballast device serves to limit the lamp current to the required value for proper operation while providing the required starting voltage and current.

An input cable 52 is connected to the ballast and terminates at its free end 54 in a conventional electrical plug 56. When the plug is inserted into a conventional ll0 volt electrical receptacle (not shown), electrical power is provided, via cable 52, to the ballast device which in turn provides the proper voltage and current, via wires 42, to the lamps 36 to effect the illumination thereof.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the top surface 24 of the cover 38 is planar and is of generally rectangular shape having four sides. Each side terminates in a sidewall. For example, one side terminates in sidewall 58, another side terminates in sidewall 60, a third side terminates in sidewall 62 and the remaining side terminates in the backwall 48.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sidewalls 58, 60 and 62 and the backwall 50 are formed integral with the top surface 24. Furthermore, the sidewalls 58, 60 and 62 extend downward at an acute angle to the plane of the top surface 24. This arrangement provides a generally truncated pyramidal shaped table having gently sloped sides to enable a workpiece to be readily slid off the table and under the needle of the sewing machine without catching on any table corners.

In order to diffuse or equalize the light output across the entire top surface 24 of the cover 32, the cover is preferably formed of a translucent plastic such as pigmented polyethylene, pigmented polymethyl methacrylate or pigmented polystyrene.

The inside surface 64 of base 30 is a light reflector in order to direct the light produced by the lamps 36 through the table top. To that end, the base 34 is preferably formed of mill finished aluminum. If more light output is required for a given rating fluorescent lamp, the inside surface 64 of the base 34 may be formed of a conventional silvered mirror or its equivalent.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 30 includes three acute angled flanges 66. Each flange is adapted to abut the inside surface adjacent the free end of the respective sidewalls 58, 60 and 62. Plural screws 68 are provided to connect the flanges 66 to the abutting cover sidewalls. A perpendicular flange 70 is provided on base 30 to abut the inside lower edge of the backwall 48 and a screw 72 is adapted to connect the abutting portions to one another. When the cover is screwed in place, the light table 14 is completely selfcontained with none of its internal electrical components exposed.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an alternative embodiment 74 of the apparatus in accordance with this invention. The apparatus 74 is shown with a portion of its light diffusing cover broken away to show the interior. As can be seen, the apparatus 74 includes the identical components as in apparatus 10. However, whereas in the light table 14 of apparatus 10 the lamps 36 are arranged to extend perpendicularly to the backwall 48 of the cover, the lamps 36 in the light table 14 of the apparatus 74 extend at approximately a 45 angle to the backwall 48 and are parallel to one another. This arrangement has been found to produce a more even light distribution through the top surface 24 of cover 38.

As should be appreciated from the foregoing, the apparatus of this invention is simple and inexpensive, can be readily moved to any position where desired and is extremely effective in indicating the position of indicia apertures in workpieces. Furthermore, the downwardly extending sides of the table ensure that once the workpieces are aligned on the worktable, they can be readily moved to the sewing machine without catching or other interference.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination with a sewing machine including a needle, a table for supporting a workpiece to be sewn by said machine, said table providing light to illuminate from below indicia apertures in the workpiece to facilitate the sewing of said workpiece, said table comprising a reflective base, light emitting means disposed over said base and a light transmitting cover disposed over said light emitting means, said cover diffusing the light produced by the light emitting means, said cover being adapted to support said workpiece directly thereon and including a generally planar top and at least one sidewall extending downward at an angle to said top, said table being positioned closely adjacent the sewing machine with a downwardly extending sidewall of said cover pointing toward said needle to facilitate the removal of the workpiece from the table and its insertion under the needle. 

1. In combination with a sewing machine including a needle, a table for supporting a workpiece to be sewn by said machine, said table providing light to illuminate from below indicia apertures in the workpiece to facilitate the sewing of said workpiece, said table comprising a reflective base, light emitting means disposed over said base and a light transmitting cover disposed over said light emitting means, said cover diffusing the light produced by the light emitting means, said cover being adapted to support said workpiece directly thereon and including a generally planar top and at least one sidewall extending downward at an angle to said top, said table being positioned closely adjacent the sewing machine with a downwardly extending sidewall of said cover pointing toward said needle to facilitate the removal of the workpiece from the table and its insertion under the needle. 